Pfizer Celebrates UK Viagra Switch
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Time to J&J targets Deals grab explorethe Devine right headlines Silk Road to win in 2017 page 10 page 18 page 20 Contents Pfizer celebrates 15 December 2017 Issue Number 494 COMPANY NEWS UK Viagraswitch Nestlé makes Atrium move 3 en in the UK will soon have OTCac- UK pharmacies “in the spring of 2018”. Alliance snaps up 4 Mcess to Pfizer’s blockbuster erectile- “Inthe interim,”Pfizer added, “the company Vamousse range dysfunction treatment Viagra after an appli- will be implementing an extensive trainingand HRAPharmaeagerly 5 cation to switch the sildenafil-based product education programme with pharmacies.” seeking acquisitions wasgiven the green light. Viagra Connect will be available from a Damier growswith Remark5 Following aconsultation –launched earlier pharmacist without aprescription for men aged this year (OTC bulletin,7April 2017, page 18 years or older suffering from erectile dys- Venture Life to grow 6 9) –the UK’s Medicines andHealthcare prod- function. The maximum dose is one tablet a global OTCoffering ucts Regulatory Agency(MHRA) approvedthe day,with apack size of up to eight tablets. Phoenix increases7reclassification of sildenafil50mg film-coated Theapprovalwill be areal boon to Pfizer’s presenceinSerbia tablets from prescription-only medicine (POM) Consumer Healthcareoperation, which is cur- ZurRosesnaps up another rival7 to pharmacy(P) status. rently under“strategicreview”. Pfizer will make The MHRA–which pointedout that other adecision on whetherto sell theunit next year GENERAL NEWS medicines containing sildenafil would still be (OTC bulletin,20October 2017, page 1). GSK suveysCanadians 8 available on prescription –confirmed to OTC Noting that it had approvedthe switch “fol- bulletin that generic 50mgformulations would lowing areassuring assessment of the safety FDAeases app focus 11 remain prescription-only unless and until they of Viagra Connect and advice from the UK’s Optimisation keytogrowth 11 successfully underwent asimilar switch procedure. Commission on Human Medicines”, the MHRA France investigates 14 Pfizer vere aled that it wasalready “work- pointed out that the product would only be sold OTCsale monopoly ing on plans” to introduce OTCsildenafil – after adiscussion with apharmacist. under the brand name Viagra Connect –in Continued on page 8 MARKETING NEWS DocMorris launches 15 chronic illness app WBAbreaks intoChina GSK keeps hands clean 15 algreens BootsAlliance (WBA) is pois- Headquartered in Shanghai, GuoDaoperates ASA clears Nurofen 16 Wed to break into China’sretail phar- more than 3,500 retail pharmacies in 70 cities of misleading TV ad macymarket by grabing aminority stake across China and is the country’snumber one ACCC goes forVoltaren 16 in the country’sGuoDa drugstore chain. pharmacychain by sales. Under the terms of the deal, WBAwill pay Describing GuoDa as “China’sleading phar- REGULARS Sinopharm Accord CNY2.77 billion (C355 mil- macy chain”, WBApointed outthat the drug- Events –Our regular listing 17 lion) to take a40% stakeinits subsidiary Sino- store operator had been seeking outside invest- People –Bayer announces 24 pharm HoldingGuoDaDrugstores. Thetrans- ment to support its strategy for “expansion newUKOTC head action is subject to regulatory approvaland across the country”. GuoDa waslooking to other closing conditions. Continued on page 5 Connect with us on: Twitter LinkedIn OTC-bulletin.com Youfocus on GREA V T consumer healthcare ALUE Indiv idu subscrip al So do we ... tio are onl ns y Letus bring you thenews £995 that matters to your industry Don’twaste time sifting through pharma noise. OTC bulletin delivers all thewellness and self-care informationyou needto makebetter decisions faster. 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(Tel: +44 (0)1564 777550; Fax: +44 (0)1564 777524).Registered in England No. 2765878. VATGB608 0432 69 COMPANY NEWS OTC Mergers &Acquisitions Nestlé makes Atrium move estlé has signalled its intention to become Science division, which offers “science-based Naforce in consumer healthcare by acquir- nutritional solutions” direct to consumers and ing Canadian supplements specialist Atrium through healthcare professionals. Innovationsfor US$2.3billion (C1.95 billion) Commenting on the deal, GregBehar,Nestlé fromagroup of investors led by PermiraFunds. Health Science’schief executive officer,said Subjecttoregulatoryapproval,the transaction is Atrium’sbrands “naturally complemented” expected to close in the first quarter of 2018. Health Science’sConsumer Care portfolio. Describing Atrium as a“global leader in “Atrium’sportfolio will extend our product nutritional health products”, Nestlé said the range with value-added solutions such as pro- deal supported its “pursuit of growth oppor- biotics, plant-based protein nutrition, meal re- The Wobenzym Njoint-health supplement tunities in consumer healthcare, complement- placementsand an extensivemultivitaminline,” bulletin,6October 2017, page 5). ing the company’sfocus on its high-growth Behar noted. “Atrium’sestablished brands are in Prior to itstakeoverbyNestlé, Atrium in late food and beverage categories”. attractivecategories andhavethe potential for November struck astrategic partnership with Quebec-based Atrium wasexpected to gen- continued stronggrowth as part of Nestlé through Chinese cross-border e-commerce platform Net- erate turnoverof“almost US$700 million” in category, channel andgeographic expansion.” Ease Kaola to gain better access to China’s grow- 2017,Nestlé noted,from sales in morethan50 Thedeal alsogaveNestlé afoothold in the ingmiddle class consumer base. countries across North America, Europe and Asia. “fast growing” segment for “organic andnatu- Atrium’sbest-selling line, the Garden of ral supplements”, Behar said. Deal with NetEase Life organic supplements range, wasthe “num- Peter Luther,Atrium’spresident and chief The Canadian firm said striking adeal with ber-one brand in the natural supplements indus- executive officer, said the firm was“looking for- one of China’s“fastest growing e-commerce try in the US”, Nestlé claimed, while the Pure ward to continued growth as part of Nestlé”. companies” would enable Atrium to expand its Encapsulations hypoallergenic supplements line “Nestlé will provideAtrium with the resources limited presence in the East Asian country. wasthe “number-one recommended brand in to accelerate the growth of our brands,”Luther Atrium entered theChinese market in 2016, the US practitioner market”. added, “and to reach more consumers globally.” by establishing wholly-owned subsidiaries in Both brands are also available in China, as Nestlé’sacquisition of Atrium comes six Shanghai and Hong Kong. is the Wobenzym supplement line, which is months after the Swiss food and drinks giant Expanding on the rationale behind the agree- claimed to “promote joint health and help re- committed to growing its presence in the global ment, LuthersaidNetEase Kaola’sunderstand- lieve everyday aches and pains”. consumer healthcare market (OTC bulletin,21 ingof“shopperinsight” and “purchasing behav- Atrium’sEuropean portfolioincludes theAOV July 2017, page 7). iour” would help Atrium to tap into the “huge alternative medicine line, Orthica probiotics Commenting on this strategy in October, potential” of the Chinese market. and Minami omega-3 range, as well as Pure Nestlé’schief executive officer,Mark Schneider, Atrium’sbrands –such as Wobenzym and Encapsulations and Wobenzym. said the companywas interested in “anything Garden of Life –offered “unique benefits” for Nestlé noted that upon closing Atrium’s thatisclose to our core skillsetaround nutri- those Chinese consumers “looking for more management team would remain in place and tion and skin, and anythingthatgives us astrong- natural, clean and provensupplements from the it would incorporate thebusiness into its Health er presence in the drugstore channel” (OTC international market”, Luther claimed. OTC Editor: Matt Stewart Assistant Editor: RachaelWalker Advertising Controller: Debi Robinson Deputy Editor: Tom Gallen Production Editor: Jenna Meredith Director of Subscriptions: Val Davis AssociateEditor: David Ridley Editor-in-Chief: Aidan Fry Group Sales Manager: Rob Coulson Contributing Editor: David Wallace Managing Director: Phil Jarvis Awards Manager: Natalie Cornwell 15 December 2017 |Number 494 Editorial enquiries: OTC bulletin, Te rms &Conditions: While due carehas been taken to ensurethe accuracy of 4 Poplar Road, Dorridge,Solihull, These can be viewedinfull at www.OTC-bulletin.com. information contained in this publication, the publisher West Midlands B93 8DB, UK. No partofthis publication